Vault compositions for immunization against chlamydia genital infection

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions are provided herein for immunizing a subject against Chlamydial genital infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a Chlamydial immunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault-like particle carrier. In some aspects, the vault-like-particles are administered to the nasal mucosa. The methods and compositions advantageously exhibit enhanced ability to induce cell-mediated immunity and/or antibody-based immunity at mucosal surfaces while reducing inflammation associated with  Chlamydia  infection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/053,623, filed May 15, 2008, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This invention was made with United States Government support underNational Institutes of Health Grant Nos. AI26328 AND EB004553 andNational Science Foundation Grant No. MCB0210690. The United StatesGovernment has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND

C. trachomatis is a gram-negative bacterium with an obligateintracellular developmental cycle. Sexually transmitted infections (STI)with Chlamydia trachomatis are common in the US, with approximately 3million cases occurring annually and a 5% incidence in the adolescentpopulation. Chlamydial STIs primarily cause local infections confined toepithelial cells in the female reproductive tract. However, C.trachomatis infections can also ascend to the upper genital tract (UGT)and induce an inflammatory response, leading to variety of complicationsthat are associated with increased morbidity and reproductivedysfunction, including infertility. Antibiotic administration throughscreening programs can lower infection rates but may actually increasepostinfection complications in females (Brunham et al., J. Infect. Dis.,192:1836-44 (2005)). Hence, a vaccine protecting against C. trachomatisinfection would be highly desirable.

CD4⁺ T-cells expressing the αβ+ T-cell receptor (TCRαβ+) dominate thelocal lymphocytic infiltrate of patients infected with C. trachomatis(Morrison et al., Infect. Immun., 68(5):2870-9 (2000); Kelly et al.,Infect. Immun., 65:5198-208 (1997)) and are necessary for the resolutionof Chlamydia genital infection (Cotter et al., Infect. Immun.,65(6):2145-52 (1997); Perry et al., J Immunol., 158:3344-52 (1997);Morrison et al., Infect. Immun., 63(12):4661-8 (1995)). Resolution isdependent on the secretion of gamma interferon (IFNγ) (Perry et al., JImmunol., 158:3344-52 (1997); Hawkins et al., Infect. Immun.,70(9):5132-9 (2000); Igietseme et al., Regional Immunol., 5:317-24(1993)) and can be mediated by transferring IFNγ-secreting CD4+ T cells(Th1 cells) to infected subjects (Hawkins et al., Infect. Immun.,70(9):5132-9 (2000); Murthy et al., Infect. Immun., 75(2):666-76(2007)). In addition, antibody responses can enhance cell-mediatedimmune protection against C. trachomatis genital infection (Morrison etal., J. Immunol., 175(11):7536-42 (2005)). Thus, a vaccine against C.trachomatis would preferably elicit both a Th1 cell-mediated responseand an antibody response against C. trachomatis in the reproductivemucosa while minimizing inflammation associated with C. trachomatisinfection.

The Chlamydial protein most studied as a candidate antigen for aChlamydiavaccine is the Chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP),a 40 kDa integral membrane protein which is the predominant Chlamydialsurface protein. While other Chlamydial surface proteins areimmunogenic, antibodies against such proteins have not been found to beprotective (e.g., Zhang et al., Infect. Immun., 57:636-638 (1989)). Acommon approach for vaccinating against Chlamydial infection is tostimulate the central immune system by parenteral administration of asubunit vaccine (e.g., Macmillan et al., FEMS Immunology & MedicalMicrobiology, 49(1):46-55 (2007); Ifere et al., J. Microbiol. Immunol.Infect., 40(3):188-200 (2007)). While such conventionally administeredvaccines are capable of providing some protection against infertility(Pal et al., Infect. Immun., 73(12):8153-60 (2005)) they are difficultto produce and ineffective in many subjects.

In contrast to parenteral administration, vaccine administration tomucosal tissues induces strong cellular responses at mucosal surfaces(Neutra et al., Nat. Rev. Immunol., 6(2):148-58 (2006)). Moreover,stimulating the inductive site at a mucosal surface produces immuneresponses at distant mucosal surfaces (Mestecky, J. Clin. Immunol.,7:265-76 (1987)). For example, stimulating inductive immune sites (NALT)in the nasal mucosa (Zuercher et al., J. Immunol., 168(4):1796-803(2002)) can induce greater antibody levels at vaginal surfaces(Kozlowski et al., J. Immunol., 169(1):566-74 (2002); Staats et al.,AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 13(11):945-52 (1998)). Immunization of thenasal mucosae can also produce cell-mediated responses in the genitaltract. For example, intranansal immunization produced a cytotoxic Tlymphocyte (CTL) response against HSV-2 in the genital tract and inducedlong-lasting protection against reinfection (Gallichan et al., J.Infect. Dis., 177(5):1155-61 (1998)). Recently, intranasal immunizationwith a Chlamydial peptide provided superior protection against infectionand reduced hydrosalpinx following Chlamydial infection (Murthy et al.,Infect. Immun., 75(2):666-76 (2007); He et al., Immunology, 122(1):28-37(2007)).

Thus, there is a need in the art for a Chlamydia vaccine which issuitable for administration to the nasal mucosae and capable of inducingboth cellular and antibody-based immune responses and providingprotective immunity against infection while minimizing inflammation inthe subject.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, methods are provided herein for treating and/orpreventing Chlamydial infection in a subject, the methods comprisingadministering to the subject an effective amount of a Chlamydialimmunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereofincorporated within a vault-like particle.

In further aspects, pharmaceutical compositions are provided herein forimmunizing a subject against C. trachomatis genital infection, thecompositions comprising a Chlamydial immunogenic peptide or animmunogenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault-likeparticle, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

In yet further aspects, methods are provided herein for immunizing asubject against Chlamydial genital infection, the methods comprisingadministering to the subject an effective amount of a Chlamydialimmunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereofincorporated within a vault-like particle.

In some preferred aspects, the immunogenic peptide is MOMP.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Design of a ChlamydiaVault. a) Constructs used to preparerecombinant vaults containing MOMP using baclovirus. b) Western blot ofa ChlamydiaVaults (5 μg/lane) probed with an antibody against the VD1region of MOMP (MoPn-40) and antisera against MVP (rabbit IgG). c).ELISA assay configured with vaults with or without the “z” domain andreacted with mouse IgG or IgA. Data points represent duplicates,SD=0.004-0.034 nm.

FIG. 2. Immunization with ChlamydiaVaults significantly reducedbacterial burden following chlamydial genital infection. a) The courseof infection was statistically reduced in the MOMP-vault immunized groupcompared to the control GL-vault immunized group. (two-way RM ANOVA (p,0.005), Dunn's one-way ANOVA showed that the positive control and theMOMP-vault immunized group was statistically different from the GL-vaultimmunized group but they were not different from each other; p<0.05) b).The percentage of anti-chlamydial responsive Th1 cells among CD4+CD3+splenocytes measured day 15 after genital infection among the differentimmunization groups. Bars represent means of individual mice. At least10,000 events were collected on a flow cytometer and gated on CD4+CD3+cells. c) Bars represent the means of the ratio of antichlamydiaeIgGc:IgG1 in serum collected 15 days after genital infection. *, p=0.02.d) The percentage of anti-chlamydial responsive Th2 cells among CD4+CD3+splenocytes measured day 15 after genital infection among the differentimmunization groups. Bars represent means of individual mice. At least10,000 events were collected on a flow cytometer and gated on CD4+CD3+cells. N: CT=6, MOMP-vault=6, GL-vault=5. Data are representative of twoexperiments.

FIG. 3. Dendritic cells are efficient at incorporating vaults. a) BMDCs(1×106) were incubated with media, CP-MVP-Z/INT-GL vaults (500 μg) orFITCdextran (250 μg) at 37° C. for the indicated times. Cells werestained for a marker on DCs (CD11c-PE) and analyzed using a flowcytometer. Shown is a representative of three experiments. b) BMDCs(1×106) were incubated with media, CP-MVP-Z/INT-GL vaults (0.5 mg) orFITC-dextran (250 μg) at 37° C. for 30 min-2 hrs. Cells were stained fora marker of DCs (CD11c-PE, red). Arrows designate cells containingfluorescent particles (green). Shown is a representative of threeexperiments.

FIG. 4. Immunization with vaults induces antibody against the containedimmunogen. Serum was collected from mice 2 weeks after the indicatedimmunization. ELISA assay individual sera against a) UV-inactivatedChlamydiae or b) MOMP peptide. Bars represent the means of theanti-Chlamydiae. * p<0.04. IgG levels in serum * p<0.001. Western blot(15% SDS-PAGE) reactivity against c) whole UV-inactivated Chlamydiae ord) his-tagged GFP and probed with pooled sera from the indicatedimmunization regimen or control antisera as indicated above. Lanescontain ˜10 μg of whole CT or GFP-his. n=4-6 mice per group.Representative of two independent experiments.

FIG. 5. Development of anti-MVP serum antibody is dependent on thepeptide contained within the vault. Serum was collected from mice 2weeks after the indicated immunization. Western blot (15% SDS-PAGE)reactivity against a) GL-vaults or b) MOMP-vaults and probed with pooledsera from mice collected 2 weeks after the indicated immunizationregimen or control antisera as indicated above. Lanes contain ˜10 μg ofGL-vaults or MOMP-vaults. c) ELISA assay of pooled sera againstvault-coated plates. Bars represent the mean of 4-6 mice per group. *p<0.001. Representative of two independent experiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is related to novel Chlamydia vaccines comprisingan immunogenic peptide in association with a vault-based carrier. Insome preferred aspects, the vaccines comprise the Chlamydial major outermembrane protein (MOMP) or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereofwithin the hollow interior of a barrel-shaped vault nanocapsule. Thevaccines are preferably suitable for administration to a mucosalsurface, such as but not limited to the nasal mucosae, and capable ofinducing a cell-mediated immune response in mucosal tissues.

Vaults are ubiquitous, highly conserved ribonucleoprotein particlesfound in nearly all eukaryotic tissues and cells, including dendriticcells (DCs), endometrium, and lung, and in phylogeny as diverse asmammals, avians, amphibians, the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum,and the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei (Izquierdo et al., Am. J. Pathol.,148(3):877-87 (1996)). Vaults have a hollow, barrel-like structure withtwo protruding end caps and an invaginated waist. Regular small openingssurround the vault cap. These openings are large enough to allow smallmolecules and ions to enter the interior of the vault. Vaults have amass of about 12.9±1 MDa (Kedersha et al., J. Cell Biol., 112(2):225-35(1991)) and overall dimensions of about 42×42×75 nm (Kong et al.,Structure, 7(4):371-9 (1999)). The volume of the internal vault cavityis approximately 50×10³ nm³, which is large enough to enclose an entireribosomal protein. For comparison, vault particles are larger in massand size than many icosahedral viruses and are about 1/10 the size of atypical Staphylococcus bacterium.

Vaults comprise three different proteins, designated MVP, VPARP andTEP1, and between one and three different untranslated RNA molecules,designated vRNAs. For example, the rat Rattus norvegicus has only oneform of vRNA per vault, while humans have three forms of vRNA per vault.The most abundant protein, major vault protein (MVP), is a 95.8 kDaprotein in Rattus norvegicus and a 99.3 kDa protein in humans which ispresent in 96 copies per vault and accounts for about 75% of the totalprotein mass of the vault particle. The two other proteins, the vaultpoly-ADP ribose polymerase, VPARP, a 193.3 kDa protein in humans, andthe telomerase/vault associated protein 1, TEP1, a 292 kDa protein inRattus norvegicus and a 290 kDa protein in humans, are each present inbetween about 2 and 16 copies per vault.

VPARP, is a poly ADP-ribosyl polymerase apparently unique to vaults. Itincludes a region of about 350 amino acids that shares 28% identity withthe catalytic domain of poly ADP-ribosyl polymerase, PARP, a nuclearprotein that catalyzes the formation of ADP-ribose polymers in responseto DNA damage. VPARP catalyzes an NAD-dependent poly ADP-ribosylationreaction, and purified vaults have poly ADP-ribosylation activity thattargets MVP, as well as VPARP itself.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda vault-like particle useful for sequestering the one or more than onesubstance within the vault-like particle.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a vault-like particle useful as a carrier molecule fordelivering one or more than one substance to a living system, such as anorganism, specific tissue or specific cell, or to an environmentalmedium.

In some aspects, vaccine compositions are provided herein for deliveringan immunogenic peptide to a subject in a manner effective to induce animmune response against the peptide, wherein the compositions comprise avault-like-particle associated with an immunogenic peptide or animmunogenic fragment or variant thereof. In some preferred aspects, theimmunogenic peptide is the Chlamydial major outer membrane protein(MOMP).

In further aspects, the immunogenic peptide is another Chlamydialpeptide capable of producing protective immune responses, such as butnot limited to a peptide described in Murthy et al., Infect. Immun.,75(2):666-76 (2007); He et al., Immunology, 122(1):28-37 (2007); orWeinreich et al., Journal of Infectious Diseases, 196(10):1546-52(2007), all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Peptides canbe screened for immunogenicity by expressing the peptides in a vault asdescribed herein and testing for anti-MVP antibodies or utilizing otherindicators of immunity known in the art.

Immunogenic peptides provided herein can comprise, consist essentiallyof and/or consist of any fragment of contiguous amino acids of MOMP fromany biovar and/or serotype of C. trachomatis, including, for example,fragments of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200,250, 300, 350 or more contiguous amino acids up to and including fulllength MOMP.

Variants of immunogenic peptides provided herein include homologousproteins and fragments thereof from other strains of Chlamydia and/orother organisms. A homologous protein is a polypeptide or fragmentthereof that shares significant homology with a reference polypeptide.Homologous proteins include proteins and fragments thereof having atleast 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% and/or 100% homology with a referenceamino acid sequence. Methods for identifying homologues of thepolypeptides described herein in Chlamydia and/or other organisms areknown in the art.

In some preferred aspects, vaccine compositions provided herein areuseful for delivering the immunogenic peptide to a mucosal surface in amanner effective to induce a cell-mediated immune response and/or anantibody immune response against the Chlamydial peptide. In furtheraspects, vaccine compositions provided herein are suitable foradministration to the nasal mucosa and are capable of inducing acell-mediated immune response and/or an antibody immune response atvaginal surfaces and/or within the genital tract upon intransaladministration.

The terms “protective immunity” means that the subject mounts an activeimmune response to the immunogenic composition and/or that the subjecthas been provided with passive immunity, such that upon subsequentexposure or a challenge, the subject is able to resist and/or overcomeinfection and/or disease. Thus, a protective immune response willpreferably decrease the incidence of morbidity and/or mortality fromsubsequent exposure to Chlamydial pathogens.

An “active immune response” is mounted by the host after exposure toimmunogens by infection or by vaccination. In contrast, “passiveimmunity” is acquired through the transfer of preformed substances(e.g., antibodies, transfer factors, thymic grafts, interleukin-2, andthe like) from an actively immunized host to a non-immune host.

A “cell-mediated immune response” refers to a helper T cell responsewhich involves the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), leading tocell-mediated immunity.

An “antibody immune response” refers to a helper T cell response whichinvolves the release of interleukin 4 (IL-4), leading to humoralimmunity.

A “subject” referred to herein can be any animal susceptible toinfection by a Chlamydial species, including a mammal (e.g., alaboratory animal such as a rat, mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, primates,etc.), a farm or commercial animal (e.g., a cow, horse, goat, donkey,sheep, etc.), a domestic animal (e.g., cat, dog, ferret, etc.), an avianspecies, or a human.

Without being limited to a particular theory, it is believed thatincorporating an immunogenic peptide or fragment thereof in avault-like-particle enhances the immunogenicity of the peptide, e.g., byprotecting immunogenic peptides from environmental factors and/orenhancing cell-mediated immune responses. For example, conformationalintegrity is essential for inducing protective immunogenicity using MOMPand the packaging of MOMP within the vault core acts to preserve MOMP'snative conformation, e.g. by shielding it from degradative enzymesand/or other destabilizing factors. In further aspects, the size and/orshape of vault-like particles provided herein is similar to microbialpathogens and allows the particles to be readily internalized byantigen-presenting cells (APCs), including but not limited to, dendriticcells, macrophages and/or B-cells. The vault particles thus facilitatethe processing and presentation of immunogenic peptides on cell surfaceMHC molecules required for induction of a cell-mediated immune response.

In some preferred aspects, administering a vaccine provided hereininduces both cell-mediated and antibody-based immune responses againstChlamydial antigens in mucosal tissues. In further aspects,administering a vaccine provided herein to the nasal mucosa inducesprotective immunity against Chlamydia genital infection at vaginalsurfaces and/or within the genital tract. In some preferred aspects,intranasal administration of vaccines provided herein induces protectiveimmunity against Chlamydia genital infection in the absence of anadjuvant and/or a live microbial vector.

In some aspects, vaccines provided herein induce protective immunity byreducing the magnitude, extent and/or duration of mucosal infection uponintravaginal challenge with Chlamydial antigens.

In further aspects, vaccines provided herein reduce inflammation in thegenital tract associated with subsequent intravaginal challenge withChlamydial antigens. Without being limited to a particular theory, it isbelieved that repeated exposures to Chlamydial antigens results inincreasing inflammatory responses which are not necessary for protectionagainst Chlamydial infection but are associated with reproductivedysfunction and other complications. Advantageously, vaccines describedherein reduce immune-related pathology and morbidity followingChlamydial STI's by inducing protective immunity and/or reducinginflammation upon re-exposure to antigens.

In some aspects, nasal immunization with a vaccine provided hereininduces protective cellular immunity and eradicates bacterial vaginalburden to a similar extent as intranasal infection with live chlamydiaein the absence of added adjuvants and/or a live microbial vector.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of using vaults as carrier molecules to deliver one ormore than one substance to an organism, or to a specific tissue orspecific cells. The method comprises administering vaults comprising thesubstance to the organism, tissue or cells.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of delivering one or more than one substance to anorganism, or to a specific tissue or specific cells, or to anenvironmental medium. The method comprises providing vault-likeparticles comprising the substance, and administering the vault-likeparticles comprising the substance to the organism, tissue or cells, orto the environmental medium.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of delivering vault-like particles to a specifictissue or specific cells, or to an environmental medium. The methodcomprises providing vault-like particles having a receptor-bindingdomain on the surface of the vault-like particles, and administering thevault-like particles to the tissue or cells, or to the environmentalmedium.

In some aspects, vault-like particles used as carriers for immunogenicpeptides further comprise a targeting moiety which binds preferentiallyto a particular molecule, cell type, tissue, organ, or the like. Forexample, in some preferred aspects, the targeting moiety comprises an Fcbinding domain capable of binding immunoglobulins. Without being limitedto a particular theory, it is believed that Fc receptors play animportant role in immune responses to infectious pathogens, such as C.trachomatis, and that binding of Fc receptors by an Ig Fc domainstimulates a variety of effector functions, including but not limitedto, immune complex internalization, phagocytosis, and T-cell activation.Advantageously, vault-like-particles provided herein which comprise anFc binding domain have an enhanced ability to induce T-cell responsesand stimulate protective immunity against C. trachomatis infection.

In some aspects, methods are provided herein for treating or preventinginfection with C. trachomatis, the methods comprising administering animmunogenic Chlamydial peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variantthereof to a subject in association with a vault-like-particle carrier.

In some aspects, methods are provided herein for treating or preventinga disease or condition caused by Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Forexample, in various aspects, methods are provided herein to reduce thedegree and/or incidence of hydrosalpinx, oviduct dilatation, and/orcellular infiltration associated with chlamydial infection.

In further aspects, methods are provided herein for immunizing a subjectagainst infection with C. trachomatis, the methods comprisingadministering an immunogenic Chlamydial peptide or an immunogenicfragment or variant thereof to a subject in association with avault-like-particle carrier.

In further aspects, methods are provided herein for reducing thelikelihood of infertility in the subject due to Chlamydial infection,the methods comprising administering an immunogenic Chlamydial peptideor an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof to a subject inassociation with a vault-like-particle carrier.

In further aspects, methods are provided herein for eliciting an immuneresponse in a subject against C. trachomatis, the methods comprisingadministering an immunogenic Chlamydial peptide or an immunogenicfragment or variant thereof to a subject in association with avault-like-particle carrier.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of preventing damage by one or more than one substanceto an organism, or to a specific tissue or specific cells, or to anenvironmental medium, by sequestering the one or more than one substancewithin a vault-like particle. The method comprises providing vault-likeparticles comprising one or more than one substance-binding domainwithin the vault-like particle, administering the vault-like particlesto the organism, tissue or cells, or to the environmental medium, andallowing the vault-like particles to sequester the one or more than onesubstance within the vault-like particles.

Advantageously, both vaults and vault-like particles are resistant todegradation, such as intracellular degradation or environmentaldegradation, and therefore, can be used to deliver substances to or toremove substances from both living and non-living systems. Theembodiments of the present invention will now be disclosed in greaterdetail.

In some aspects, vault-like-particles and vaccine compositionscomprising such particles can be modified and/or administered withadditional agents to increase antigenicity. Methods of increasing theantigenicity of a protein or peptide are well known in the art andinclude, e.g., coupling the antigen to a heterologous protein (such asglobulin or β-galactosidase) or administering the protein or peptidewith one or more adjuvants, such as but not limited to, animmuno-stimulatory cytokine and commercial adjuvant preparations such asSYNTEX adjuvant formulation 1 (SAF-1).

In further aspects, vault-like-particles and vaccine compositionsprovided herein are intended for administration without added adjuvantsand/or live vectors.

In additional aspects, kits are provided herein comprising compositionsand particles described herein and instructions for immunizing a subjectagainst and/or treating a subject for a Chlamydial infection byadministering a vaccine composition or vault-like-particle describedherein to the subject. The kits can optionally comprise one or morecontainers and/or receptacles to hold the compositions and/or particlesalong with one or more optional reagents (e.g., antibodies, antigens,nucleic acids, adjuvants, and/or other immunodulating agents), buffers,diluents and/or other solutions.

As used in this disclosure, “MVP,” “VPARP” and “TEP1” means the fullnaturally occurring polypeptide sequence. “vRNA” means the fullnaturally occurring polynucleotide sequence. As will be appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, theactual sequence of any of MVP, VPARP, TEP1 and vRNAs can be from anyspecies suitable for the purposes disclosed in this disclosure, eventhough reference or examples are made to sequences from specificspecies. For example, when delivering substances to human organs ortissues, it is preferred to use human vaults or vault-like particlescomprising human sequences for MVP, VPARP, TEP1 and vRNAs. Further, aswill be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art with referenceto this disclosure, there are some intraspecies variations in thesequences of MVP, VPARP, TEP1 and vRNAs that are not relevant to thepurposes of the present invention. Therefore, references to MVP, VPARP,TEP1 and vRNAs are intended to include such intraspecies variants.

As used in this disclosure, the term “vault” or “vault particle,” ascompared to the term “vault-like particle” defined below, refers to anaturally occurring macro-molecular structure having MVP, VPARP, TEP1and one or more than one vRNA, whether purified from natural sources orgenerated through recombinant technology.

As used in this disclosure, the term “vault-like particle” refers to amacro-molecular structure comprising any of the following:

-   -   1) MVP without VPARP, TEP1 and vRNA;    -   2) MVP and either VPARP or a portion of VPARP, without TEP1 and        vRNA;    -   3) MVP and TEP1 or a portion of TEP1 with or without the one or        more than one vRNA, and without VPARP;    -   4) MVP without VPARP, TEP1 and vRNA, where the MVP is modified        to attract a specific substance within the vault-like particle,        or modified to attract the vault-like particle to a specific        tissue, cell type or environmental medium, or modified both to        attract a specific substance within the vault-like particle and        to attract the vault particle to a specific tissue, cell type or        environmental medium; and    -   5) MVP, and either VPARP or a portion of VPARP, or TEP1 or a        portion of TEP1 with or without the one or more than one vRNA,        or with both VPARP or a portion of VPARP, and TEP1, with or        without the one or more than one vRNA, where one or more than        one of the MVP, VPARP or portion of VPARP and TEP1 is modified        to attract a specific substance within the vault-like particle,        or modified to attract the vault particle to a specific tissue,        cell type or environmental medium, or modified both to attract a        specific substance within the vault-like particle and to attract        the vault particle to a specific tissue, cell type or        environmental medium.

As used in this disclosure, the term “modified” and variations of theterm, such as “modification,” means one or more than one change to thenaturally occurring sequence of MVP, VPARP or TEP1 selected from thegroup consisting of addition of a polypeptide sequence to theC-terminal, addition of a polypeptide sequence to the N-terminal,deletion of between about 1 and 100 amino acid residues from theC-terminal, deletion of between about 1 and 100 amino acid residues fromthe N-terminal, substitution of one or more than one amino acid residuethat does not change the function of the polypeptide, as will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to thisdisclosure, such as for example, an alanine to glycine substitution, anda combination of the preceding.

As used in this disclosure, the term “human” means “Homo sapiens.”

As used in this disclosure, the terms “organism,” “tissue” and “cell”include naturally occurring organisms, tissues and cells, geneticallymodified organisms, tissues and cells, and pathological tissues andcells, such as tumor cell lines in vitro and tumors in vivo.

As used in this disclosure, the term “environmental medium” means anon-living composition, composite, material, or mixture.

As used in this disclosure, the term “administering” includes anysuitable route of administration, as will be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, includingdirect injection into a solid organ, direct injection into a cell masssuch as a tumor, inhalation, intraperitoneal injection, intravenousinjection, topical application on a mucous membrane, or application toor dispersion within an environmental medium, and a combination of thepreceding. In one embodiment, the dosage of vaults or vault-likeparticles, with or without one or more than one substance enclosedwithin the vaults or vault-like particles, is between about 0.1 and10,000 micrograms per kilogram of body weight or environmental medium.In another embodiment, the dosage of vaults or vault-like particles,with or without one or more than one substance enclosed within thevaults or vault-like particles, is between about 1 and 1,000 microgramsper kilogram of body weight or environmental medium. In anotherembodiment, the dosage of vaults or vault-like particles, with orwithout one or more than one substance enclosed within the vaults orvault-like particles, is between about 10 and 1,000 micrograms perkilogram of body weight or environmental medium. For intravenousinjection and intraperitoneal injection, the dosage is preferablyadministered in a final volume of between about 0.1 and 10 ml. Forinhalation the dosage is preferably administered in a final volume ofbetween about 0.01 and 1 ml. As will be appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the dose can berepeated a one or more than one of times as needed using the sameparameters to effect the purposes disclosed in this disclosure.

As used in this disclosure, “MS2” means the Enterobacteriophage MS2 coatprotein, which is an RNA-binding protein that specifically binds a 21-ntRNA stem-loop with high affinity.

As used in this disclosure, the term “comprise” and variations of theterm, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to excludeother additives, components, integers or steps.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of using naturallyoccurring vaults as carrier molecules to deliver one or more than onesubstance to an organism, or to a specific tissue or specific cells, orto an environmental medium. The method comprises, first, providingvaults. In one embodiment, the vaults are purified from natural sources,such as mammalian liver or spleen tissue, using methods known to thosewith skill in the art, such as for example tissue homogenization,differential centrifugation, discontinuous sucrose gradientfractionation and cesium chloride gradient fractionation. In anotherembodiment, the vaults are made using recombinant technology. Next, theone or more than one substance is incorporated into the provided vaults.In a preferred embodiment, incorporation is accomplished by incubatingthe vaults with the one or more than one substance at an appropriatetemperature and for an appropriate time, as will be appreciated by oneof ordinary skill in the art with reference to this disclosure. Thevaults containing the one or more than one substance are then purified,such as for example sucrose gradient fractionation, as will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to thisdisclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more than onesubstance is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, apharmaceutical agent, a plasmid, a polynucleotide, a polypeptide, asensor and a combination of the preceding. Next, the vaults comprisingthe one or more than one substance are administered to an organism, to aspecific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium.Administration is accomplished using any suitable route, as will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to thisdisclosure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a vault-like particle useful as a carrier molecule fordelivering one or more than one substance to an organism, to a specifictissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium, or useful forpreventing damage by one or more than one substance to an organism, to aspecific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium, bysequestering the one or more than one substance within a vault-likeparticle. The vault-like particle comprises MVP or modified MVP, and canfurther comprise VPARP or modified VPARP, a portion of VPARP or amodified portion of VPARP, and TEP1 or modified TEP1, a portion of TEP1or a modified portion of TEP1 with or without the one or more than onevRNA. In a preferred embodiment, the modifications are designed toattract a specific substance within the vault-like particle, to attractthe vault-like particle to a specific tissue or cell type, or both toattract a specific substance within the vault-like particle and toattract the vault particle to a specific tissue or cell type.

In one embodiment, the MVP is human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, GenBank accessionnumber CAA56256, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:2, GenBank accessionnumber X79882. In another embodiment, the VPARP is human VPARP, SEQ IDNO:3, GenBank accession number AAD47250, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ IDNO:4, GeWank accession number AF158255. In another embodiment, the TEP1is human TEP1, SEQ ID NO:5, GenBank accession number AAC51107, encodedby the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:6, GenBank accession number U86136. In anotherembodiment, the vRNA is human vRNA, SEQ ID NO:7, GenBank accessionnumber AF045143, SEQ ID NO:8, GenBank accession number AF045144, or SEQID NO:9, GenBank accession number AF045145, or a combination of thepreceding.

In one embodiment, the MVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10,GenBank accession number AAC52161, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:11,GenBank accession number U09870. In another embodiment, the TEP1 isRattus norvegicus TEP1, SEQ ID NO:12, GenBank accession number AAB51690,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:13, GenBank accession number U89282. Inanother embodiment, the vRNA is Rattus norvegicus vRNA, SEQ ID NO:14,GenBank accession number Z1171. As can be seen, Rattus norvegicus MVPand human MVP share over 90% homology.

The following disclosure of vault protein modifications referencespecific examples using specific human and Rattus norvegicus MVP, VPARPand TEP1 sequences. However, as will be appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art with reference to this disclosure, correspondingmodifications can be made using other sequences of these species and canbe made using sequences from other species as appropriate for thedisclosed purposes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda vault-like particle comprising, consisting essentially of, orconsisting of modified MVP. In a preferred embodiment, the modificationcomprises adding an amino acid sequence to the N-terminal of the MVPwhich results in one or more than one substance-binding domain withinthe vault-like particle. When each copy of the MVP is modified in thismanner, one or more than one of the substance-binding domains, such as96 substance-binding domains, is present in each vault-like particle,however, vault-like particles can also be assembled from a mixture ofMVP with the N-terminal modified and MVP without the N-terminalmodified, to create vault-like particle with less than 96substance-binding domains in the vault-like particle, and the addedamino acid terminal sequences can be polymerized as will be appreciatedby one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to this disclosure tocreate more than 96 substance-binding domains in the vault-likeparticle.

In some aspects, vault-like particles are provided herein comprising,consisting essentially of, or consisting of modified MVP, where themodification comprises adding an amino acid sequence to the N-terminalof the MVP which results in one or more than one immunogenic peptide, oran immunogenic fragment or variant thereof, within the vault-likeparticle. In some preferred aspects, the immunogenic peptide isChlamydial MOMP.

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a vault-like particlecomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an MVP modifiedby adding a peptide to the N-terminal to create a one or more than oneof heavy metal binding domains. In a preferred embodiment, the heavymetal binding domains bind a heavy metal selected from the groupconsisting of cadmium, copper, gold and mercury. In a preferredembodiment, the peptide added to the N-terminal is a cysteine-richpeptide (CP), such as for example, SEQ ID NO:15, the MVP is human MVP,SEQ ID NO:1, and the modification results in CP-MVP, SEQ ID NO:16,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:17. In another preferred embodiment, thecysteine-rich peptide is SEQ ID NO:15, the MVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP,SEQ ID NO:10, and the modification results in CP-MVP, SEQ ID NO:18,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:19. These embodiments are particularlyuseful because vault-like particles consisting of CP-MVP, SEQ ID NO:16or SEQ ID NO:18, are stable without the presence of other vaultproteins.

In another embodiment, there is provided a vault-like particlecomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an MVP modifiedby adding a peptide to the N-terminal to create one or more than onepolynucleotide-binding domain. In a preferred embodiment, the peptide isa non-specific polynucleotide-binding peptide, such as for example,HisT7, SEQ ID NO:20, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:21, or a polylysinesuch as SEQ ID NO:22, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:23, the MVP ishuman MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and the modification results in HisT7-MVP, SEQID NO:24, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:25, or in polylysine-MVP, SEQID NO:26, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:27, respectfully. In anotherpreferred embodiment, the peptide is a non-specificpolynucleotide-binding peptide, such as for example, HisT7, SEQ IDNO:20, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:21, or a polylysine such as SEQ IDNO:22, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:23, the MVP is Rattus norvegicusMVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and the modification results in HisT7-MVP, SEQ IDNO:28, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:29, or in polylysine-MVP, SEQ IDNO:30, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:31, respectfully. HisT7-MVP, SEQID NO:24 and SEQ ID NO:28, are examples of modified MVP that can also beused to bind specific antibodies within the vault-like particle, inthese cases, the T7 monoclonal antibody, but corresponding modificationscan be made to bind other specific antibodies, as will be appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art with reference to this disclosure. Inanother preferred embodiment, the peptide is a specific DNA bindingpeptide, such as for example, GAL4, SEQ ID NO:32, encoded by the cDNA,SEQ ID NO:33, the MVP is human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and the modificationresults in GAL4-MVP, SEQ ID NO:34, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:35. Inanother preferred embodiment, the peptide is a specific DNA bindingpeptide, such as for example, GAL4, SEQ ID NO:32, encoded by the cDNA,SEQ ID NO:33, the MVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and themodification results in GAL4-MVP, SEQ ID NO:36, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:37. In another preferred embodiment, the peptide is a specific RNAbinding peptide, such as for example, MS2, SEQ ID NO:38, encoded by thecDNA, SEQ ID NO:39, the MVP is human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and themodification results in MS2-MVP, SEQ ID NO:40, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:41. In another preferred embodiment, the peptide is an RNA bindingpeptide, such as for example, MS2, SEQ ID NO:38, encoded by the cDNA,SEQ ID NO:39, the MVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and themodification results in MS2-MVP, SEQ ID NO:42, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:43.

In another embodiment, there is provided a vault-like particlecomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an MVP modifiedby adding a peptide to the N-terminal to create a sensor in thevault-like particle. The sensor can be any suitable sensor, as will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to thisdisclosure, such as for example, a chemical sensor such as a cyclic-AMPbinding protein, an ionic sensor such as a calcium or potassium sensor,a microorganism sensor such an antibody specific for E. coli, an opticalsensor such as a quantum dot, and a pH sensor such as green fluorescenceprotein. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is a fluorescent protein,such as green fluorescent protein (GL), SEQ ID NO:44, encoded by thecDNA, SEQ ID NO:45, the MVP is human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and themodification results in GL-MVP, SEQ ID NO:46, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:47. In another preferred embodiment, the sensor is a fluorescentprotein, such as green fluorescent protein (GL), SEQ ID NO:44, encodedby the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:45, the MVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, and the modification results in GL-MVP, SEQ ID NO:48, encoded bythe cDNA, SEQ ID NO:49.

In another embodiment, there is provided a vault-like particlecomprising MVP or modified MVP, and further comprising VPARP or aportion of VPARP comprising at least about 150 consecutive residues ofVPARP, and modified by adding a peptide to either the C-terminal or theN-terminal to create a one or more than one of substance-binding domainsor a one or more than one of sensors within the vault-like particleshaving the same purposes as disclosed with reference to modified MVP inthis disclosure. By way of example only, in one embodiment, the residuesare from about residue 1562 to residue 1724 of human VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3.In another embodiment, the residues are from about residue 1473 toresidue 1724 of human VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3. The substance-binding domainson the VPARP or portion of VPARP serve the same functions as disclosedin this disclosure with respect to N-terminal modifications of MVP. Forexample, in one embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise residues1473-1724 of VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by adding CP, SEQ ID NO:15, tothe N-terminal, to create (1473-1724)CP-VPARP, SEQ ID NO:50, encoded bythe cDNA, SEQ ID NO:51. In another embodiment, the vault-like particlescomprise VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by adding CP, SEQ ID NO:15, to theN-terminal, to create CP-VPARP, SEQ ID NO:52, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:53. In one embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise residues1473-1724 of VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by adding GAL4, SEQ ID NO:32,to the N-terminal, to create GAL4-(1473-1724)VPARP, SEQ ID NO:54,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:55. In another embodiment, the vault-likeparticles comprise VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by adding GAL4, SEQ IDNO:32, to the N-terminal, to create GAL4-VPARP, SEQ ID NO:56, encoded bythe cDNA, SEQ ID NO:57. In another embodiment, the vault-like particlescomprise residues 1473-1724 of VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by addingGL, SEQ ID NO:44, to the N-terminal, to create GL-(1473-1724)VPARP, SEQID NO:58, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:59. In another embodiment, thevault-like particles comprise VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by adding GL,SEQ ID NO:44, to the N-terminal, to create GL-VPARP, SEQ ID NO:60,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:61. In another embodiment, the vault-likeparticles comprise residues 1473-1724 of VPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified byadding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38, to the N-terminal, to createMS2-(1473-1724)VPARP, SEQ ID NO:62, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:63.In another embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise VPARP, SEQ IDNO:3, modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38, to the N-terminal, to createMS2-VPARP, SEQ ID NO:64, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:65. In anotherembodiment, the vault-like particles comprise residues 1473-1724 ofVPARP, SEQ ID NO:3, modified by adding a Photinus pyralis luciferase(LUC), SEQ ID NO:66 GenBank accession number P08659, encoded by thepGL3-Basic vector SEQ ID NO:67, GenBank accession number U47295 to theN-terminal, to create LUC-(1473-1724)VPARP, SEQ ID NO:68, encoded by thecDNA, SEQ ID NO:69.

In further aspects, vault-like particles are provided herein comprisingMVP or modified MVP, and further comprising VPARP or a portion of VPARPcomprising at least about 150 consecutive residues of VPARP, andmodified by adding a peptide to either the C-terminal or the N-terminalto create a one or more than immunogenic peptides, or immunogenicfragments or variants thereof, within the vault-like particles. In somepreferred aspects, the immunogenic peptide is Chlamydial MOMP.

In another embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise VPARP, SEQ IDNO:3, modified by adding LUC, SEQ ID NO:66, to the N-terminal, to createLUC-VPARP, SEQ ID NO:71, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:72. Further, aswill be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art with referenceto this disclosure, the present invention also includes correspondingmodifications to the C-terminal of VPARP or a portion of VPARP, andserve the same function. In a preferred embodiment, the substancebinding domain binds the enzyme adenosine deaminase.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda vault-like particle comprising, consisting essentially of, orconsisting of MVP modified by adding an amino acid sequence to theC-terminal of the MVP which results in one or more than onereceptor-binding domain, such as a protein targeting domain, on thesurface of the vault-like particle. When each copy of the MVP ismodified in this manner, one or more than one of the receptor-bindingdomains, such as 96 receptor-binding domains, is present on eachvault-like particle, however, vault-like particles can also be assembledfrom a mixture of MVP with the C-terminal modified and MVP without theC-terminal modified, to create vault-like particle with less than 96receptor-binding domains on the vault-like particle.

In some aspects, vault-like particles are provided herein comprising,consisting essentially of, or consisting of MVP modified by adding anamino acid sequence to the C-terminal of the MVP which results in one ormore than one immunogenic peptide, or an immunogenic fragment or variantthereof, on the surface of the vault-like particle. In some preferredaspects, the immunogenic peptide is Chlamydial MOMP.

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a vault-like particlecomprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an MVP modifiedby adding a peptide to the C-terminal to create a one or more than oneof eukaryotic cell receptor-binding domains on the exterior of thevault-like particles. In a preferred embodiment, the eukaryotic cellreceptor-binding domain is generally non-specific. For example, in oneembodiment, the peptide is Antennapedia (ANT), SEQ ID NO:72, encoded bythe cDNA, SEQ ID NO:73, the MVP is human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and themodification results in MVP-ANT, SEQ ID NO:74, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:75. In another embodiment, the peptide is ANT, SEQ ID NO:72,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:73, the MVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQID NO:10, and the modification results in MVP-ANT, SEQ ID NO:76, encodedby the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:77. In another embodiment, the peptide is HIV-Tat(TAT), SEQ ID NO:78, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:79, the MVP is humanMVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and the modification results in MVP-TAT, SEQ ID NO:80,encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:81. In another embodiment, the peptide isTAT, SEQ ID NO:78, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:79, the MVP is Rattusnorvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and the modification results in MVP-TAT,SEQ ID NO:82, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:83. In another embodiment,the eukaryotic cell receptor-binding domain is specific to a certaintype of eukaryotic cell receptor, such as for example a carcinoembryonicantigen receptor, a protein found on the surface of about 50% of allhuman tumors, or an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. For example,in one embodiment, the peptide is anti-CEA scFv diabody (αCEA), SEQ IDNO:84, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:85, the MVP is human MVP, SEQ IDNO:1, and the modification results in MVP-αCEA, SEQ ID NO:86, encoded bythe cDNA, SEQ ID NO:87. In another embodiment, the peptide is UCEA, SEQID NO:84, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:85, the MVP is Rattusnorvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and the modification results in MVP-αCEA,SEQ ID NO:88, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:89. In another embodiment,the peptide is EGF, SEQ ID NO:90, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:91, theMVP is human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and the modification results in MVP-EGF,SEQ ID NO:92, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:93. In another embodiment,the peptide is EGF, SEQ ID NO:90, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:91, theMVP is Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and the modification resultsin MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:94, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:95.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda vault-like particle comprising, consisting essentially of, orconsisting of MVP modified by adding an amino acid sequence to theN-terminal and also modified by adding an amino acid sequence to theC-terminal. The modification of the N-terminal and the modification ofthe C-terminal can be any modification as disclosed in this disclosure,for the same purposes as disclosed in this disclosure. For example, themodification of the N-terminal can result in a substance-binding domain,such as for example a heavy metal binding domain or a polynucleotidebinding domain, or can result in a sensor within the vault-likeparticle. The modification of the C-terminal can result in one or morethan one receptor-binding domain on the surface of the vault-likeparticle. By way of example only, in one embodiment, the vault-likeparticle comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modifiedby adding GAL4, SEQ ID NO:32, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ IDNO:1, and ANT, SEQ ID NO:72 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1,to create GAL4-MVP-ANT, SEQ ID NO:96, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:97.In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQ IDNO:32, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, andANT, SEQ ID NO:72 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, to create GAL4-MVP-ANT, SEQ ID NO:98, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ IDNO:99. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQID NO:32, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and αCEA, SEQ IDNO:84 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to createGAL4-MVP-αCEA, SEQ ID NO:100, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:101. Inanother embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQ IDNO:32, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, andαCEA, SEQ ID NO:84 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, to create GAL4-MVP-αCEA, SEQ ID NO:102, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:103. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQID NO:32, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and EGF, SEQ IDNO:90 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to createGAL4-MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:104, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:105. Inanother embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQ IDNO:32, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, andEGF, SEQ ID NO:90 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, to create GAL4-MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:106, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:107. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQID NO:32, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and TAT, SEQ IDNO:78 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to createGAL4-MVP-TAT, SEQ ID NO:108, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:109. Inanother embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding GAL4, SEQ IDNO:32, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and TAT,SEQ ID NO:78 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10,to create GAL4-MVP-TAT, SEQ ID NO:110, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ IDNO:111. In one embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38,to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and ANT, SEQ ID NO:72 tothe C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to create MS2-MVP-ANT, SEQ IDNO:112, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:113. In another embodiment, thevault-like particle comprises, consists essentially of, or consists ofMVP modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38, to the N-terminal of Rattusnorvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and ANT, SEQ ID NO:72 to the C-terminal ofRattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, to create MS2-MVP-ANT, SEQ IDNO:114, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:115. In another embodiment, thevault-like particle comprises, consists essentially of, or consists ofMVP modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38, to the N-terminal of humanMVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and αCEA, SEQ ID NO:84 to the C-terminal of human MVP,SEQ ID NO:1, to create MS2-MVP-αCEA, SEQ ID NO:116, encoded by the cDNA,SEQ ID NO:117. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding MS2, SEQID NO:38, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, andαCEA, SEQ ID NO:84 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, to create MS2-MVP-αCEA, SEQ ID NO:118, encoded by the cDNA, SEQID NO:119. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding MS2, SEQID NO:38, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and EGF, SEQ IDNO:90 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to createMS2-MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:120, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:121. Inanother embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38,to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, and EGF, SEQID NO:90 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, tocreate MS2-MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:122, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:123.In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38,to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and TAT, SEQ ID NO:78 tothe C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to create MS2-MVP-TAT, SEQ IDNO:124, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:125.

In further aspects, vault-like particles are provided herein comprising,consisting essentially of, or consisting of MVP modified by adding anamino acid sequence to the N-terminal and also modified by adding anamino acid sequence to the C-terminal. In some preferred aspects, theamino acid sequence added to the N-terminal and/or the amino acid addedto the C-terminal is an immunogenic peptide, or an immunogenic fragmentor variant thereof. In some preferred aspects, the immunogenic peptideis Chlamydial MOMP.

In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding MS2, SEQ ID NO:38,to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and TAT, SEQ IDNO:78 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, tocreate MS2-MVP-TAT, SEQ ID NO:126, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:127.In one embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding polylysine, SEQ IDNO:22, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and ANT, SEQ IDNO:72 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to createpolylysine-MVP-ANT, SEQ ID NO:128, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:129.In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding polylysine, SEQ IDNO:22, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, andANT, SEQ ID NO:72 to the C-terminal of a Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, to create polylysine-MVP-ANT, SEQ ID NO:130, encoded by the cDNA,SEQ ID NO:131. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by addingpolylysine, SEQ ID NO:22, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1,and αCEA, SEQ ID NO:84 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, tocreate polylysine-MVP-αCEA, SEQ ID NO:132, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ IDNO:133. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by addingpolylysine, SEQ ID NO:22, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP,SEQ ID NO:10, and αCEA, SEQ ID NO:84 to the C-terminal of Rattusnorvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, to create polylysine-MVP-αCEA, SEQ IDNO:134, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:135.

In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding polylysine, SEQ IDNO:22, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, and EGF, SEQ IDNO:90 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, to createpolylysine-MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:136, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:137.

In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of MVP modified by adding polylysine, SEQ IDNO:22, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, andEGF, SEQ ID NO:90 to the C-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP, SEQ IDNO:10, to create polylysine-MVP-EGF, SEQ ID NO:138, encoded by the cDNA,SEQ ID NO:139. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by addingpolylysine, SEQ ID NO:22, to the N-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1,and TAT, SEQ ID NO:78 to the C-terminal of human MVP, SEQ ID NO:1, tocreate polylysine-MVP-TAT, SEQ ID NO:140, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ IDNO:141. In another embodiment, the vault-like particle comprises,consists essentially of, or consists of MVP modified by addingpolylysine, SEQ ID NO:22, to the N-terminal of Rattus norvegicus MVP,SEQ ID NO:1, and TAT, SEQ ID NO:78 to the C-terminal of Rattusnorvegicus MVP, SEQ ID NO:10, to create polylysine-MVP-TAT, SEQ IDNO:142, encoded by the cDNA, SEQ ID NO:143.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a vault-like particle comprising MVP and VPARP or a portion ofVPARP, where the MVP is modified by adding an amino acid sequence to theN-terminal or is modified by adding an amino acid sequence to theC-terminal, or is modified both by adding an amino acid sequence to theN-terminal and by adding an amino acid sequence to the C-terminal, andwhere the VPARP or portion of VPARP is modified by adding an amino acidsequence to the N-terminal or is modified by adding an amino acidsequence to the C-terminal, or is modified both by adding an amino acidsequence to the N-terminal and by adding an amino acid sequence to theC-terminal. The modifications can be any modification as disclosed inthis disclosure, for the same purposes as disclosed in this disclosure.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod of preventing damage by one or more than one substance to anorganism, to a specific tissue, to specific cells, or to anenvironmental medium, by sequestering the one or more than one substancewithin a vault-like particle. The method comprises providing vault-likeparticles according to the present invention. The method furthercomprises administering the vault-like particles to the organism,tissue, cells or environmental medium, and allowing the vault-likeparticles to sequester the one or more than one substance within thevault-like particles.

In one embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise, consistessentially of or consist of a modified MVP according to the presentinvention. In another embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise amodified VPARP or portion of VPARP according to the present invention.In another embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise both a modifiedMVP according to the present invention, and a modified VPARP or portionof VPARP according to the present invention. In a preferred embodiment,the vault-like particles comprise, consist essentially of or consist ofMVP modified by adding a peptide to the N-terminal to create a one ormore than one of heavy metal binding domains. In one embodiment, the oneor more than one substance is a heavy metal selected from the groupconsisting of cadmium, copper, gold and mercury. In another embodiment,the one or more than one substance is a toxin selected from the groupconsisting of arsenate, dioxin, an organochlorine, a pentachlorophenoland a polychlorinated biphenyl. In a preferred embodiment, the providingstep comprises expressing the vault-like particles in a eukaryoticorganisms, such as for example an Acanthomoeba sp., yeast orDictostelium discoidieum, capable of proliferating in contaminated soil,and the administering step comprises introducing the organisms with theexpressed vault-like particles into the contaminated soil. For example,vault-like particles comprising an arsenate reductase enzyme within thevault-like particles can be expressed in the organisms and used todetoxify soil. For example, in one embodiment, modified MVP is providedcomprising one or more than one arsenate-binding domain at theN-terminal.

Arsenate reductase enzyme is cloned with residues 1473-1724 of humanVPARP, SEQ ID NO:3 at either the C-terminal or the N-terminal. Bothproteins are co-expressed in a primitive eukaryotic organisms, such asacanthomoeba, yeast or Dictostelium discoidieum, capable ofproliferating in contaminated soil. The organisms engineered to containthe two modified proteins are introduced into contaminated soil, wherethey are exposed to the environmental toxin, such as arsenate. Theexpressed vault-like particles, comprising 96 or more copies of thearsenate-binding domain and the detoxification enzyme, arsenatereductase within the vault-like particles, then sequester and detoxifythe environmental toxin, arsenate in the environmental medium.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod of delivering one or more than one substance to an organism, to aspecific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium. Themethod comprises providing vault-like particles according to the presentinvention comprising the one or more than one substance. The methodfurther comprises administering the vault-like particles comprising theone or more than one substance to the organism, tissue, cells orenvironmental medium. In one embodiment, the vault-like particlescomprise, consist essentially of or consist of a modified MVP accordingto the present invention, in addition to the one or more than onesubstance.

In another embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise a modifiedVPARP or modified portion of VPARP according to the present invention.In another embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise both a modifiedMVP according to the present invention, and a modified VPARP or modifiedportion of VPARP according to the present invention. In a preferredembodiment, the one or more than one substance is selected from thegroup consisting of an enzyme, a pharmaceutical agent, a plasmid, apolynucleotide, a polypeptide, a sensor and a combination of thepreceding. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the substance isadenosine deaminase.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod of delivering one or more than one sensor to an organism, to aspecific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium. Themethod comprises providing a vault-like particle comprising the one ormore than one sensor and administering the vault-like particle to theorganism, specific tissue, specific cells, or environmental medium. Inone embodiment, the vault-like particles comprise, consist essentiallyof or consist of a modified MVP according to the present invention, inaddition to the one or more than one sensor. In another embodiment, thevault-like particles comprise a modified VPARP or modified portion ofVPARP according to the present invention. In another embodiment, thevault-like particles comprise both a modified MVP according to thepresent invention, and a modified VPARP or modified portion of VPARPaccording to the present invention. The sensor can be any suitablesensor, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art withreference to this disclosure, such as for example, a chemical sensorsuch as a cyclic-AMP binding protein, an ionic sensor such as a calciumor potassium sensor, a microorganism sensor such an antibody specificfor E. Coli, an optical sensor such as a quantum dot, and a pH sensorsuch as green fluorescence protein. In a preferred embodiment, thesensor is a fluorescent sensor.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of detecting asignal from a sensor within an organism, or a specific tissue orspecific cells. The method comprises delivering one or more than onesensor to an organism, to a specific tissue, to specific cells, or to anenvironmental medium, according to a method of the present invention.Then, the presence of the sensor is detected. Detection is performedusing standard techniques, such as for example, fluorometry orspectrophotometry. This method can be used, for example, to determinethe pH within cells, where the sensor is a pH dependent fluorescentsensor, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art withreference to this disclosure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of making vault-like particles according to thepresent invention. The method comprises creating polynucleotidesequences encoding one or more than one polypeptide selected from thegroup consisting of MVP, modified MVP, VPARP, a portion of VPARP,modified VPARP, a modified portion of VPARP, TEP1, a portion of TEP1,modified TEP1 and a modified portion of TEP1, using standard molecularbiological procedures, such as polymerase chain reaction and specificoligonucleotides, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in theart with reference to this disclosure. Preferably, the polynucleotidesequences are used to generate a bacmid DNA that is used to generate abaculovirus comprising the sequence. The baculovirus is then used toinfect insect cells for protein production using an in situ assemblysystem, such as the baculovirus protein expression system, according tostandard techniques, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill inthe art with reference to this disclosure. Advantageously, we have usedthe baculovirus protein expression system to produce milligramquantities of vault-like particles, and this system can be scaled up toallow production of gram quantities of vault-like particles according tothe present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod of making vault-like particles having one or more than onesubstance, such as an enzyme, a pharmaceutical agent, a plasmid, apolynucleotide, a polypeptide, a sensor and a combination of thepreceding, within the vault-like particles. The method comprises makingthe vault-like particles according to a method of the present invention.Next, the vault-like particles are purified using, such as for example,standard procedures over sucrose gradients. Then, the vault-likeparticles are co-incubated with one or more than one substance, untilthe one or more than one substance equilibrates within the vault-likeparticles or until enough of the one or more than one substance isloaded in the vault-like particles for the intended purpose.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of Chlamydia-Vault-Like Particles (CVLPs)

To test whether barrel-shaped vaults can serve as carriers ofimmunogenic proteins, recombinant vault-like particles were used ascarriers for the intranasal immunization of mice with the chlamydia MOMPprotein. MOMP was chosen because of its immunogenic properties andability to lessen development of infertility after Chlamydia infection[Ifere et al., J. Microbiol. Immunol. Infect., 40(3):188-200 (2007); Palet al., Infect. Immun., 73(12):8153-60 (2005)]. FcR-mediated deliveryhas been proposed as an effective vaccination strategy and an adjuvantfor boosting immune response against pathogens [Heijnen et al., J. Clin.Invest., 97(2):331-8 (1996)] and enhancing cell-mediated immunity.Further, Th1 response and immunity against chlamydial genital infectionis enhanced by FcR [Moore et al., J. Infect. Dis., 188(4):617-24(2003)]. The vaults were engineered to bind Ig through the Fc bindingdomain of protein A (Z domain, FIG. 1 a) (SEQ ID NO:144) by expressingthe Z domain on the exterior ends of the barrel. Vaults expressing the Zdomain (SEQ ID NO:145) bound mouse IgG (FIG. 1 c), indicating thatvaults expressing the Z domain can enhance induction of T cell responsesand protective vaginal immunity.

MOMP-INT -DNA (GenBank accession no. L19221; SEQ ID NO:146) encodingchlamydial MOMP protein (GenBank accession no. AAA16615; SEQ ID NO:147)was PCR-amplified from a pcDNA3 expression vector (Zhang et al., Journalof Infectious Diseases, 176(4):1035-40 (1997)) and fused to the vaultinteraction domain derived from VPARP (INT) (GenBank accession no.AF158255 (SEQ ID NO: 3), amino acids 1471-1724) to produce MOMP-INT (SEQID NO:148) (FIG. 1 a). The MOMP-INT construct and a GL-INT construct(SEQ ID NO:59) were inserted into pFASTBAC™ TOPO® cloning vectors(Invitrogen) and the vectors were expressed in sf9 insect cells usingthe Bac-to-Bac® baculovirus expression system (Invitrogen) according tomanufacturer's instructions.

Vault Expression and Purification—Recombinant vault-like particles wereprepared by expressing rat MVP in sf9 insect cells essentially asdescribed in Stephen et al., J. Biol. Chem., 276(26):23217-20 (2001),which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Sf9 cellswere maintained in Sf-900 II SFM media and grown at 27° C. Cultures wereinfected with a pFASTBAC™ expression vector comprising rat MVP at amultiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01 for approximately 65 h and cellswere then pelleted and lysed on ice in buffer A [50 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.4), 75 mM NaCl, and 0.5 mM MgCl₂] with 1% Triton X-100, 1 mMdithiothreitol, 0.5 mM PMSF, and protease inhibitor cocktail (2 μg/mlaprotinin, 0.5 μM benzamidine, 2 μg/ml chymostatin, 5 μM leupeptin, 5 μMpepstatin) (Sigma). Pelleted cells were incubated on ice for 20 min. andthen homogenized 10 times with a type A Dounce. Unbroken cells,organelles, and membranes were pelleted by centrifugation at 20,000×g(S20) for 15 min at 4° C.

Large protein complexes (including vaults) were collected by furthercentrifugation of the supernatant at 100,000×g for 1 h at 4° C. Thepellet (P100) was resuspended by Dounce homogenization with 1 ml ofbuffer A containing 1 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mM PMSF, and the proteaseinhibitor mixture. The P100 fraction was then adjusted to 7% sucrose andFicoll and centrifuged at 43,000×g for 40 min. at 4° C. The supernatantwas diluted 1:3 with buffer A containing 1 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mM PMSF,and the protease inhibitor mixture and centrifuged at 100,000×g for atleast 3 h to pellet vaults. The pellet was resuspended by Douncehomogenization in 1 ml of buffer A containing 1 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mMPMSF, and the protease inhibitor mixture. To remove contaminatingribosomes, 500 μg of RNase A and 50 units of RNase TI (Ambion) wereadded and incubated for 20 min at room temperature. The insolubleribosomal proteins were then pelleted by centrifugation at 20,000×g for15 min at 4° C. The supernatant was loaded onto a sucrose step gradientof 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, and 60% sucrose steps and centrifuged at 78,000×gfor 16 h. The fractions were collected and diluted 1:9 with buffer Acontaining 1 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mM PMSF, and the protease inhibitormixture, and the vaults were pelleted by centrifugation at 100,000×g for3 h. The pellets were then resuspended in 200 μl of buffer A containing1 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mM PMSF, and the protease inhibitor mixture andanalyzed by silver staining and Western blot.

Chlamydia-vault-like particles—MOMP-INT was incorporated into vaults bymixing purified vaults with supernatants of sf9 cells expressingMOMP-INT. The resulting chlamydia-vault-like particles (CVLPs) werecentrifuged at 100,000×g (S100) and the pellet was electrophoresed on a7% SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Western blot analysis using monoclonalantibodies specific for MOMP (MoPn40) and the VD1 portion of MVPindicated that the vaults contained MOMP (FIG. 1 b). MOMP-INT and otherproteins enter and attach to the interior of vault particles by anunknown mechanism (Stephen et al., J. Biol. Chem., 276(26):23217-20(2001)).

Example 2 Immunization with CVLPs

Immunization with MOMP-vaults reduces local bacterial burden followinggenital infection. Whether intranasal immunization with ChlamydiaVaultsinduces immunity was tested by giving mice 200 μg of ChlamydiaVaults viaintranasal immunization which contained 20 μg MOMP as estimated bywestern blot analysis. This amount of peptide was determined to beimmunogenic in other studies [Murthy et al., Infect. Immun.,75(2):666-76 (2007); Pal et al., Vaccine, 24(6):766-75 (2006)]. As anegative control, GL-vaults were prepared by producing a constructcontaining modified green fluorescent protein (GL). Mice receiving 200μg GL-vaults served as negative controls. Mice were given the vaults 3times at two-week intervals. This regimen reduces infection followingintravaginal challenge, as previously reported [Kelly et al., Infect.Immun., 64:4976-83 (1996)]. As a positive control, a group of mice wereimmunized by a single intranasal (IN) infection with 1×10³ IFU at thetime of the first immunization dose. Immunized mice were then infectedby intravaginal administration of 1.5×10⁵ IFU MoPn two weeks after thelast immunization and bacterial burden monitored by vaginal swabscollected every 3 days as reported [Maxion et al., Infect. Immun.,72(11):6330-40 (2004)]. Delivery of 20 μg ChlamydiaVaults significantlyreduced infection to levels similar to that of the positive control(FIG. 2 a). Although anti-chlamydial immunity can be elicited in ISCOMsby parenteral immunization [Igietseme et al., Infect. Immun.,68(12):6798-806 (2000); Dong-Ji et al., Infect. Immun., 68(6):3074-8(2000)], this is the first report of anti-chlamydial immunity induced bya protein delivered via a mucosal route in the absence of an adjuvant[Murthy et al., Infect. Immun., 75(2):666-76 (2007)] or a live microbialvector [He et al., Immunology, 122(1):28-37 (2007)]. Thus, delivery ofChamydiaVault was effective at inducing protective immunity by reducingthe magnitude of a mucosal infection upon intravaginal challenge withMoPn.

Eradication of chlamydial infection is depended on Th1 cells. Weanalyzed IFNγ+IL-4−CD4+CD3+ cells induced in response to wholechlamydiae organisms by flow cytometry as described previously [Maxionet al., Infect. Immun., 72(11):6330-40 (2004)]. Confirming theprotection data, mice immunized with ChlamydiaVaults developedstatistically similar levels of IFNγ+IL-4−CD4+CD3+ Th1 cells in thespleen. The splenic compartment is reflective of central immune systemand possibly, a greater number of anti-chlamydial responsive IFNγ cellsare found in mucosal draining lymph nodes or the genital mucosae of themucosal immune system of ChlamydiaVault immunized mice.

Primary exposure of C. muridarum by mucosal routes results in higherserum levels of the Th1-associated anti-MoPn IgG2a or IgGc versus theTh2 associated anti-MoPn IgG1 and is associated with protection.Protective MOMP-vault immunization resulted in lower levels of both IgGcand IgG1 and also a significantly lowered ratio of IgGc:IgG1 (FIG. 2 c).However, the lowered anti-MoPn antibody ratio was not associated with anon-protective Th2 response since all immunization groups similarpercentages of anti-MoPn responsive Th2 (FIG. 2 d) cells suggesting theMOMP-vault immunization reduces inflammation within the genital tractduring a challenge with C. muridarum. The inflammation was not mediatedby increased IL-17 cells since MoPn-responsive Th17 cells were not foundfollowing immunization with intranasal instillation of live C. muridarumor immunization with MOMP or GL-vaults. Taken together, the data showsthat MOMP delivered in vaults induces anti-chlamydial immunity capableof reducing infection following intravaginal challenge.

Chlamydia—C. muridarum (MoPn) used for immunizations and challenge weregrown on confluent Hela (Hela MoPn) and McCoy (McCoy MoPn) cellmonolayers, respectively. Elementary bodies were purified on Renograffingradients following sonication and aliquots stored at −70° C. in SPGbuffer (sucrose-phosphate-glutamine).

Immunization and antigen challenge—Female C57B1/6 mice, 5-6 weeks old,were purchased from Harlan Sprague-Dawley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and werehoused according to American Association of Accreditation of LaboratoryAnimal Care guidelines. Experimental procedures were approved by theUCLA Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Mice were divided into3 groups (12 mice/group) and anesthetized with 10% ketamine and 10%xylazine and immunized intranasally (i.n.) with either live Hela MoPn(1×10³ IFUs), 200 ug MOMP-vaults, or 200 ug GL-vaults in 30 ul PBS. Micewere immunized i.n. a total of 3 times every two weeks. Mice immunizedwith live Hela MoPn received only one immunization. On day 41post-immunization, half the mice from each group were euthanized tocollect blood and spleens for analysis of humoral and cellularresponses. A challenge experiment was performed on the remaining mice.Mice were first injected subcutaneously with 2.5 mg ofmedroxyprogesterone acetate (Upjohn, Kalamazoo, Mich.) in 100 μl ofsterile phosphate-buffered saline. Medroxyprogesterone acetate drivesmice into a state of anestrous thus eliminating the variability in therate and severity of infection due to the estrus cycle. Seven dayslater, while under anesthesia, mice were challenged by vaginalinoculation with 1.5×10⁵ IFUs of McCoy MoPn. Infection was monitored byobtaining cervical-vaginal swabs (Dacroswab Type 1, Spectrum Labs,Houston, Tex.) every 3 days. Swabs were stored in sucrose-phosphatebuffer at −70° C. until analyzed, as previously described. Mice wereeuthanized 15 days post-challenge and blood was collected in addition tothe spleens for analysis of humoral and cellular responses.

Gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting—Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed using thediscontinuous buffer system described by Laemmli, Nature, 227:680 (1970)and 10% acrylamide gels. Electrophoresis was performed using aMini-PROTEAN II cell (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, Calif.) for 60 minat 180 V in Tris-glycine running buffer (25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine,0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, pH 8.3). Protein samples of MoPn,MOMP-vaults, and GL-vaults were transferred to an Immobilon-P transfermembrane (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) and blocked with 5% (wt/vol) nonfatdry milk in PBS-0.1% Tween 20 (PBS-T). Membranes were individuallyincubated for 1 h either with antiserum raised against Live CT (1:500dilution), MOMP-vaults (1:500), GL-vaults (1:500), anti-MoPn-40 (1:5000)followed by a 1-h incubation with horseradish peroxidase-donkeyanti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) conjugate (1:5,000 dilution; AmershamBiosciences, Piscataway, N.J.). Bound conjugates were detected withSuperSignal West Dura extended duration substrate (Pierce BiotechnologyInc., Rockford, Ill.) and an Alpha Innotech Fluorchem 8000 imager.Integrated density values of immunoblots were obtained using the FluorChem software, version 3.04A (Alpha Innotech Corporation, San Leandro,Calif.).

Isolation of Splenocytes—Single-cell suspensions were prepared fromindividual spleens by mechanical disruption through 70-μm cell strainers(Falcon, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) in Isolation media (1×Hanks Balance Salt Solution, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4). Erythrocytes werelysed with ACK lysis buffer (0.15 M NH₄Cl, 10 mM KHCO₃, 0.1 mM Na₂EDTA),and washed twice with Isolation buffer. For intracellular cytokineanalysis, cells were cultured (2×10⁶/ml) for 44 h at 37° C. in RPMImedium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 200 mM glutamine, 10,000 U ofpenicillin/ml, 10,000 μg of streptomycin/ml, 1 M nonessential aminoacids, 1 M HEPES, 1 M sodium pyruvate, 5 μM 2-mercaptoethanol, and 5 μgof UV-inactivated C. muridarum elementary bodies/ml purified byRenografin-60 (Bracco Diagnostics, Princeton, N.J.) gradientcentrifugation (Kelly et al., Infect. Immun., 65:5198-208 (1997)). Forthe last 4 h of their stimulation, the cells were treated with GolgiPlug(BD Pharmingen) according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

Example 3 Incorporation of CVLPs by Dendritic Cells

Vaults are internalized by mature dendritic cells in vitro. We evaluatedvault-induced endocytosis using a standard uptake assay in comparisonwith the uptake of FITC-dextran. The standard uptake assay measures theability of immature DCs to incorporate particles such as polystyrenebeads or dextran. This is visualized by conjugating modified GL to theINT domain and producing GL-vaults as described above. Immature bonemarrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were produced from mice asdescribed previously [Lutz et al., J. Immunol. Methods, 223(1):77-92(1999)]. The cells were found to be immature by the lack of expressionof MHC class II and other co-stimulatory molecules [Liu et al.,Immunology, 123(2):290-303 (2007)]. The immature BMDCs (1×10⁶) wereincubated with media, GL-vaults (500 μg) or FITC-dextran (250 μg) for30-60 minutes at 37° C. These cells were collected and stained forCD11c-PE a cell surface marker of murine DCs and analyzed using a flowcytometer (FACS Calibur, Dickinson Corp).

CD11c+ BMDCs incubated with GL-Vaults incorporated vaults at a slowerrate of compared to FITC-dextran (FIG. 3 a). However, incubation ofGL-vaults with BMDCs for various times showed that vaults, containingthe small protein, GL, were incorporated by BMDCs in a similar timescale as the FITC-dextran control suggesting that they use a similarmechanism for incorporation. It is possible that vaults adhere to thesurface of cells and are not internalized. To address this, a portion ofthe BMDCs were fixed on poly-Llysine coated slides and evaluated forincorporated vaults (green). Our analysis showed that vaults containingthe GL protein were internalized by BMDCs (red) and appeared moreconcentrated in the DC cytoplasm than the control FITC-dextran (green)(FIG. 2 b). This is likely due adherence of FITC-dextran to the DCsurface (FIG. 2 b, left panels). Taken together, our data show thatvaults are internalized by immature BMDCs.

Bone marrow dendritic cell differentiation—Briefly, bone marrow cellswere isolated from the tibias of mice and cultured with 20 ng GM-CSF forsix days in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS(Gibco), 2 mM L-glutamine (Gibco), 50 μM of 2-ME (Gibco), 100 U/mlpenicillin (Gibco), streptomycin (Gibco), and 20 ng/ml (200 U/ml)recombinant mouse GM-CSF (Invitrogen Corp). At day 6, the cells wereenriched by positive selection using magnetic microbeads conjugated to acell surface molecule expressed on all murine DCs, anti-mouse CD11c mAb(Miltenyi Biotec), following the manufacturers' protocol. Purity ofapproximately 94% was achieved as assessed by flow cytometry.

Example 4 Induction of Antibodies

Immunization with peptide containing vaults induces anti-peptide IgG.The clearance of a chlamydial genital infection is dependent on CD4cells that secrete IFNγ while antibody levels enhance clearance inimmune mice [Murthy et al., Infect. Immun., 75(2):666-76 (2007); Ifereet al., J. Microbiol. Immunol. Infect., 40(3):188-200 (2007); Morrisonet al., J. Immunol., 175(11):7536-42 (2005)]. We measured levels ofserum antibody generated in mice following our immunization regimen butbefore vaginal challenge. As you can see in FIG. 4 a, mice immunizedwith vaults containing the MOMP or GL protein produced only backgroundlevels of IgG antibody against whole chlamydial elementary bodies whilemice given a single intranasal infection with MoPn produced significantanti-MoPn IgG antibody. However, the proportion of anti-MOMP IgG inmice, which were immunized with the MOMP-vaults, was 25% while thoseintranasally infected with chlamydiae only generated 2% anti-MOMP Ab oftotal anti-MoPn IgG (FIG. 4 b). This likely is due to IgG antibodiesgenerated against other chlamydial proteins as shown by Western blotanalysis of whole chlamydiae blotted with sera from mice immunized withlive CT by intranasal exposure (FIG. 4 c). Similarly, sera from miceimmunized with GL-vaults contained antibody which bound GFP (FIG. 4 d)indicating that immunization with vaults containing peptides induced thegeneration of peptide-specific antibody.

Anti-vault antibody development depends on the immunogenic peptide in avault. Vaults are ubiquitous self particles found in nearly alleukaryotic cells and would not be expected to induce antibody againstitself [Izquierdo et al., Am. J. Pathol., 148(3):877-87 (1996)]. Thevast majority (75%) of the vault mass consists of the major vaultprotein (MVP) [Kedersha et al., J. Cell Biol., 112(2):225-35 (1991)] andpatients with a variety of autoimmune diseases were not found to containany serum IgG against MVP (personal communication Leonard H. Rome).However, vaults containing foreign peptides are engulfed by DCs (FIG. 3)and could possibly produce antibody to a self protein. We tested thispossibility in serum pools of mice following the full immunizationregimen but before challenge infection. Western blot analysis showedthat mice immunized with Live CT or GL-vaults did not produce IgGagainst vaults as compared to the (FIGS. 5 a & b). This was confirmedwith anti-vault ELISA assays on individual sera (FIG. 5 c).

Antibodies and Flow Cytometry—The following anti-mouse monoclonalantibodies (mAb) were used for flow cytometry: anti-CD3-APC (clone1145-2C11), anti-IFN-gamma-FITC (clone XMG1.2), anti-IL-4-PE (clone11B11), and anti-FoxP3-PE (clone FJK-16s). Antibodies and theirrespective isotypes, used as negative controls for surface andintracellular staining, were purchased from eBioscience, except foranti-IL-17-PE (clone Tc11-18H10.1) (BioLegend), and anti-CD4-PerCP(clone RM4-5) (BD Biosciences). For intracellular cytokine staining,cultured cells were purified by density gradient centrifugation usingLympholyte M (Cedarlane Laboratories, Ontario, Canada) according to themanufacturer's protocol. Cells were resuspended in cold 1% FACS buffer(1% BSA in Hanks Balance Salt Solution with 0.1% NaN₃) and blocked withanti-CD16/CD32 (Fc-Block) (eBioscience) prior to incubation withspecific staining antibodies. For surface staining, 1×10⁶ cells wereincubated with saturating concentrations of appropriate antibodies for30 min at 4° C. in the dark, then washed twice in cold 1% FACS bufferbefore fixation for intracellular staining. Cells were incubated infixation/permeabilization solution (eBioscience) for 45 min. in the darkat 4° C. Cells were washed in permeabilization buffer (eBioscience) andincubated with the appropriate antibodies for 30 min in the dark at 4°C. Cells were then washed twice in permeabilization buffer. Followingthe washing step, the cells were fixed in phosphate-buffered salinecontaining 1% paraformaldehyde and kept at 4° C. until analyzed.

A novel vaccine platform is described herein which is effective atproducing cellular immunity at mucosal surfaces. In some preferredaspects, intranasal immunization using peptides contained within vaultnanoparticles produces immunity which significantly reduces bacterialload within genital tissue following genital challenge with C.muridarum. Moreover, immunization with vault nanoparticles containingimmunogenic peptides reduces both cellular and humoral immunity comparedto immunity induced via a prior infection. Since repeated infectionsincrease inflammation and reproductive dysfunction, reducing unnecessaryinflammation using methods and compositions provided herein provides anew avenue for reducing immune-mediated pathology and morbidityfollowing C. trachomatis STIs [Brunham et al., Nat. Rev. Immunol.,5(2):149-61 (2005)]. Recently, Darville, T. et al. reported thatkinetics of chlamydial eradication in vivo was similar in a strain of C.muridarum which dramatically lowered TNFα levels in vivo duringinfection [O'Connell et al., J. Immunol., 179(6):4027-34 (2007)]. Thus,immunization using vault nanoparticles is an ideal vaccine platform forinducing immunity while reducing inflammation.

MOMP vaults were sometimes observed to induce IgG to MVP but not miceexposed to GL-vaults. The lack of reactivity against MVP in GL-vaultimmunized mice was not due to the inability of GL-vaults to induce animmune response since mice given GL-vaults generated antibody againstGL-INT. It is also unlikely that cross reactive antibody developed inthese mice since mice immunized with Live CT did not produce anti-MVPIgG. In addition, MOMP has not been reported to induce antibodies thatreact against host proteins [Brunham et al., Nat. Rev. Immunol.,5(2):149-61 (2005)]. Development of antivault antibodies would beexpected to enhance clearance and reduce immunity, but MOMP-vaultimmunized mice since they were protected to the same degree as thosepreexposed to a live infection. One possibility is that vaults act as anantigen-depot within DCs prolonging immunity and only require oneexposure instead of three. Another interpretation is that the MOMPsequence itself contains one or multiple pathogen associated molecularpatterns (PAMPs) which activates cellular pathways within DCs toefficiently induce an anti-vault immune response.

Although the present invention has been discussed in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments arepossible. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in thisdisclosure. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference totheir entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pharmaceutical composition for immunizing asubject against C. trachomatis genital infection, comprising aChlamydial immunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variantthereof incorporated within a vault-like particle, and at least onepharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the vault-like particlecomprises MVP.
 2. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein thevault-like particle further comprises VPARP or modified VPARP, or aportion of VPARP or a modified portion of VPARP.
 3. The pharmaceuticalcomposition of claim 1, wherein the MVP is modified by the addition ofan amino acid sequence added to the N-terminal of the MVP.
 4. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 3, wherein the immunogenic peptideor immunogenic fragment or variant thereof resides within the vault-likeparticle.
 5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein theimmunogenic peptide is MOMP.